Old Savonoski Site

The Old Savonoski Site is an archaeological location spanning around 52 acres near where the Savonoski and Ukak Rivers meet within Katmai National Park. The land contains ruins of multiple semi-subterranean houses and other structures from an earlier settlement.

The settlement was inhabited until 1912, when the Novarupta Volcano eruption buried the entire area under volcanic ash and ended human activity there. This catastrophic event preserved the site beneath a thick layer of ash, making it accessible for future archaeological research.

The site contains barabaras, traditional semi-subterranean houses built by Native Alaskans who adapted their construction to harsh conditions. Visitors gain insight into how residents structured their homes and daily lives within this remote landscape.

Access to the exact location is restricted to prevent damage and protect the archaeological remains. Visitors should know the site is part of the national park and special permissions may be needed to visit.

Excavations beginning in 1953 uncovered multiple settlement layers buried beneath the volcanic ash from the 1912 eruption. These stacked layers allow researchers to trace how the community changed and developed across generations.